-
Auckland Botanic Gardens
This 64-hectare park has over 10,000 plants (including threatened species), dozens of themed gardens and an infestation of wedding parties. By car, take the Southern Motorway, exit at Manurewa and follow the signs. Otherwise take the train to Manurewa ($8, 43 minutes) and then walk
-
Western Bay Museum
Relocated in early 2016 to colourful new surroundings in a former fire station, this regional museum traces Katikatis heritage with an engaging mix of Māori artefacts and Ulster history. Dont miss the old Katikati Jail standing in the grounds, a compact hut with room for only two p
-
Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
Purportedly the world’s ninth-oldest surviving wooden ship, the Edwin Fox was built near Calcutta and launched in 1853. During its chequered career it carried troops to the Crimean War, convicts to Australia and immigrants to NZ. This museum has maritime exhibits, including the ven
-
Mangawhai Museum
One of regional New Zealands best museums, this spectacular building on the main road linking Mangawhai village to Mangawhai Heads is packed with interesting displays on the areas history and environment. Check out the roof shaped like a stingray. Theres also a sun-drenched cafe wo
-
Okains Bay Māori & Colonial Museum
Northeast of Akaroa, this museum has a respectable array of European pioneer artefacts, but it is the nationally significant Māori collection, featuring a replica wharenui (meeting house), waka (canoes), stone tools and personal adornments, that makes this a must-see. Note the cute
-
Suter Art Gallery
Adjacent to Queen’s Gardens, Nelson’s public art gallery presents changing exhibitions, floor talks, musical and theatrical performances, and films. The Suters long-awaited reopening after a fabulous redevelopment was scheduled for late 2016. Check the website to confirm its open,
-
Māori Rock Carvings
Accessible only by boat, these 10m-high carvings were etched into the cliffs near Mine Bay by master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell in the late 1970s. They depict Ngatoro-i-rangi, the visionary Māori navigator who guided the Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa tribes to the Taupo area a th
-
New Zealand Cricket Museum
Nooked under a stand at the Basin Reserve, the NZ Cricket Museum is a must-see for fans of the old game – a sport at which New Zealands Blackcaps have been excelling in recent times. The museum was closed for earthquake-proofing when we visited – call in advance to get the latest o
-
Dowse Art Museum
A beacon of culture and delight, the excellent Dowse is worth visiting for its jaunty architecture alone. It’s a family-friendly, accessible art museum showcasing NZ art, craft and design, with a nice cafe to boot (and a winter ice rink!). Its a 15-minute drive or a short ride on b
-
Te Whai Bay Wines
Handcrafted wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Bordeaux-style red wines, and the beautiful vineyard is a great spot for a shared antipasto platter to enhance the pleasant illusion of being in a southern hemisphere version of Tuscany. Ask at Mangawhais Visitor Information Cent
-
Paradise Valley Springs
In Paradise Valley at the foot of Mt Ngongotaha, 8km from Rotorua, is Paradise Valley Springs, a 6-hectare park with trout springs, big slippery eels and various land-dwelling animals such as deer, alpacas, possums and a pride of lions (fed at 2.30pm). There’s also a coffee shop an
-
Owaka Museum & Catlins Information Centre
More interesting than most local history museums, this whizz-bang modern establishment supports Māori and settler stories with an interesting array of artefacts. The Catlins reputation as a shipwreck coast is explained in short video presentations. It also doubles as the main infor
-
Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway
The very worthwhile 4.5km Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway takes 1½ hours (each way) and starts from the car park 14km west of Waihi. It follows the disused railway line and the Ohinemuri River Waikino station, where you can pick up the vintage train to Waihi, stopping in at Waik
-
Brooklands Park
Adjoining Pukekura Park , Brooklands Park is home to the Bowl of Brooklands , a world-class outdoor sound-shell, which hosts festivals such as WOMAD, and old-school rockers like Fleetwood Mac. Park highlights include a 2000-year-old puriri tree, a 300-variety rhododendron dell and
-
Statue of Young Nick
Theres no let-up in Gisbornes Endeavour endeavours: in the riverside park is a dynamic statue of Nicholas Young, Cook’s cabin boy, whose eagle eyes were the first to spot NZ (the white cliffs at Young Nick’s Head). There’s another Captain Cook statue nearby, erected on a globe etch
-
Penguin Place
Situated on private farmland, this reserve protects nesting sites of the yellow-eyed penguin. The 90-minute tours focus on penguin conservation and close-up viewing from a system of hides. The 2½-hour Ultimate Combo includes the penguins and a guided trek through forest and wetland
-
School of Mines & Mineralogical Museum
The Historic Places Trust runs tours of these buildings, which house an extensive collection of NZ rocks, minerals and fossils. The oldest section (1868) was part of a Methodist Sunday School, situated on a Māori burial ground. The Trust has a free self-guided tour pamphlet taking
-
Milford Discovery Centre
Only visitable on boat trips run by Southern Discoveries and Mitre Peak Cruises, this centre incorporates interactive displays on the natural environment of the sound. The floating underwater observatory offers a chance to view corals, tube anemones and bottom-dwelling sea perch fr
-
Abbey Caves
Abbey Caves is an undeveloped network of three caverns full of glow-worms and limestone formations, 6km east of town. Grab a torch, strong shoes, a mate for safety and prepare to get wet. The surrounding reserve is a forest of crazily shaped rock extrusions. Ask at the i-SITE about
-
Cape Egmont Lighthouse
A coastward turn-off at Pungarehu leads 4.5km to Cape Egmont Lighthouse, a photogenic cast-iron lighthouse fabricated in London then moved here from Mana Island near Wellington in 1881. Abel Tasman sighted this cape in 1642 and called it Nieuw Zeeland. You cant get inside the light
Total
840 -travel
FirstPage PreviousPage NextPage LastPage CurrentPage:
28/42 20-travel/Page GoTo Page:
